If you are not able to travel to Kentucky this coming May, why not throw your own Derby party? All you need is a little creative planning. Here are a few ideas to get you out of the starting gate.

Send out party invitations with a theme of horses or hats and ask your guests to wear a hat. Recommend carpooling, taxis or public transportation. For guests not accustomed to mint juleps, this can be a whole new experience.

If you don’t already have one, invest in a high definition big screen TV with surround sound. You want to bring all the action from the track into your living room. As they say, this is the most exciting two minutes in sports!

Every running of the Kentucky Derby is exciting. What makes it even better is when your horse wins and you cash in as a result. You should consider having online access available so your guests can place their wagers. To speed the flow of betting during the party, encourage your guests to set up their online wagering accounts prior to Derby Day.

Watch the pre-Derby festivities on TV with your guests and begin selecting your picks for the winning horse. To keep things lively, hold a hat contest with prizes for the best or the wackiest hat of the day. You can also host a drawing. Place the names of the 20 entries in a hat and have each guests select a horse. Award prizes to the guests whose horses come in first, second and third (or “win, place and show” to those in the know).

Stock the bar with plenty of good bourbon and be sure to practice your mint julep recipe so you can keep them flowing all day long. The julep is the classic Derby drink but, since it isn’t for everyone, be sure to have other options available.

Red roses, and lots of them, are a must for the derby. After all, it is called “Run for the Roses”! You can also decorate with jockey silks, if you can find them or sew some, lucky horseshoes or jockey caps.

Serve your guests delicious Southern classics like baby back ribs, fried chicken and potato salad. Purists can attempt beef tenderloin with Henry Bain sauce, Kentucky hot browns, cheese grits and Derby pie. Top it all off with chocolate bourbon pecan pie and, if your guests don’t leave as winners, at least they’ll go home satisfied!